Steve Martin (Virginia)

Stephen Martin
Virginia Senate District 11
Incumbent
In office
1994 - Present
Term ends
January 11, 2016
Years in position	19
Party	Republican
Compensation
Base salary	$18,000/year
Per diem	$178/day
Elections and appointments
Last election	November 8, 2011
First elected	1993
Next election	November 3, 2015
Term limits	N/A
Personal
Birthday	06/15/1956
Place of birth	Chesterfield County, VA
Profession	Legislator
Religion	Baptist
Websites
Office website
Campaign website

Stephen Martin has been a Republican member of the Virginia State Senate since 1994, representing the 11th district. He sought the 2013 Republican nomination for Lieutenant Governor of Virginia but lost at the Republican primary convention on May 17-18, 2013.

Martin was educated at Lynchburg Christian Academy. Martin is a CLU, Insurance Consultant and Securities Dealer and principal in Martin Financial Services. Martin is a member of Swift Creek Baptist Church. Previously, Martin was a member of the House of Delegates from 1988-94.

Committee assignments

2012-2013

In the 2012-2013 legislative session, Martin served on the following committees:

• Commerce and Labor Committee
• Education and Health, Chairman
• General Laws and Technology
• Local Government
• Privileges and Elections
• Rules

2010-2011

In the 2010-2011 legislative session, Martin served on the following committees:

• Education and Health
• General Laws and Technology
• Local Government
• Privileges and Elections

District 11

Martin represents Virginia Senate District 11. Senate District 11 includes Chesterfield County(part), Colonial Heights.

Elections

2013

See also: Virginia lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2013

Martin was a Republican candidate for the open seat of Lieutenant Governor of Virginia in 2013. Incumbent Bill Bolling (R) is not running for re-election.

The Republican Party of Virginia held a closed primary convention on May 17-18, 2013 to nominate its candidates for governor, lt. governor, and attorney general. The candidate in each field who received the highest number of delegate votes at the convention will advance to the November 5, 2013 general election.

Race background

Incumbent Lieutenant Governor Bill Bolling (R) is not seeking re-election this year. Nine candidates filed to fill the imminently-open executive seat, including two Democrats and seven Republicans. State Sen. Ralph Northam defeated Aneesh Chopra for the Democratic Party's nomination for lieutenant governor in the June 11 primary election. Northam's general election opponent is Republican E.W. Jackson. Jackson was nominated by delegates of the Virginia Republican Party at the party-funded statewide primary convention on May 17-18.

2013 Campaign themes

Martin outlines his priorities for the office of lieutenant governor on his [http://senatorstevemartin.com/issues official campaign website:

• Taxes and Spending:

"Forty percent of the average family’s earnings go to pay taxes at the federal, state or local level. Virginians don’t mind paying taxes if it is fair and the money is wisely spent. As your Senator, I have and will continue to fight against efforts to raise your taxes for every excuse that comes around the corner.

• Immigration Reform:

"Virginia was established by immigrants. My own family includes a rich heritage of Norwegian immigrants. Legal immigrants of every ethnic background seek refuge and opportunity in this great land. Legal immigrants begin their journey in the United States with respect for our laws."

• Eminent Domain:

"The right to private property is one of the foundations of our Republic and is clearly stated as a fundamental right in Virginia’s Constitution, but the Constitution is apparently not safe from bad court decisions. After the devastating US Supreme Court ruling, Kelo Vs. City Of New London, it became clear that Virginia needed to go an additional mile to protect our citizen’s property rights. No one should have their property taken from them for another’s personal gain, an increase in tax revenue or for an increase in employment."

• Family Matters:

"The strength of our communities is dependent on the strength of our families, and the individuals that comprise them. While government cannot directly affect the heart and will of the individual, it can and does set a standard for what is or is not acceptable behavior. Nothing is more important in determining these standards than the value we place on human life."

• Education:

"It is our responsibility to assure a quality educational opportunity for all of Virginia’s children, regardless of their geography or family’s financial condition. Many have the financial means to choose where their children will attend school by purchasing their homes in the right neighborhood or their willingness to pay the necessary tuition."

2011

See also: Virginia State Senate elections, 2011

On November 8, 2011, Martin won re-election to District 11 of the Virginia State Senate. He was unchallenged in the August 23 primary and ran unopposed in the November 8 general election.

2007

On Nov. 6, 2007, Martin won re-election to the 11th District Seat in the Virginia State Senate, defeating opponents Alex McMurtrie, Roger Habeck and Hank Cook.

Martin raised $297,893 for his campaign while McMurtrie raised $82,987; Habeck raised $104,491; and Cook raised $694.

Virginia State Senate, District 11 (2007)
Candidates		Votes	Percent
Stephen Martin (R)		16,478	62.41%
Alex McMurtrie (D)		4,852	18.37%
Roger Habeck (I)		3,879	14.69%
Hank Cook (I)		1,138	4.31%

Campaign donors

2011

In 2011, Martin received $161,047 in campaign donations. The top contributors are listed below.

Virginia State Senate 2011 election - Campaign Contributions
Top contributors to Steve Martin (Virginia)'s campaign in 2011
Virginia Senate Republican Caucus	$4,222
Virginia Health Care Association	$3,000
Altria	$3,000
Virginia Dental Association	$3,000
Virginia Trial Lawyers Association	$3,000
Total Raised in 2011	$161,047

2007

Below are Martin's top 5 campaign contributors in the 2007 election:

Contributor	2007 total
Virginia Senate Leadership Trust	$20,000
Home Builders Association of Virginia	$11,452
Virginia Dental Association	$5,663
Federal Victory Fund	$5,000
Markel Corporation	$5,000

Issues

Campaign themes

2011

Martin's campaign website lists the following issues:

• Education

Excerpt: "It is our responsibility to assure a quality educational opportunity for all of Virginia’s children, regardless of their geography or family’s financial condition. Many have the financial means to choose where their children will attend school by purchasing their homes in the right neighborhood or their willingness to pay the necessary tuition. "

• Family Matters

Excerpt: "I believe that life is sacred, must be protected and begins at conception...I truly believe that marriage, properly defined, can only exist between one man and one woman."

• Eminent Domain

Excerpt: "No one should have their property taken from them for another’s personal gain, an increase in tax revenue or for an increase in employment."

• Immigration Reform

Excerpt: "As a state we alone cannot stop the infusion of illegal immigrants, but we can remove incentives. I will take the lead with compassionate initiatives to protect US citizens and taxpayers from those who would break our laws. To do so, we need to make sure law enforcement is well equipped to address illegal immigration issues locally when the federal government falls short."

• Public Safety

Excerpt: "Organized gangs are on the rise in Chesterfield and Colonial Heights, as is the violence and the havoc they wreak. I appreciate the work that our Chesterfield and Colonial Heights Police Forces are doing to combat this menace. However, the problem exists around the entire Commonwealth."

• Jobs and Economic Opportunity

Excerpt: "I tell the employers in our area that the best thing they can do for me is to keep my fellow citizens well employed. That being true, it is my job to help maintain a business-friendly environment so that these businesses can prosper."

• Taxes and Spending

Excerpt: "Forty percent of the average family’s earnings go to pay taxes at the federal, state or local level. Virginians don’t mind paying taxes if it is fair and the money is wisely spent. As your Senator, I have and will continue to fight against efforts to raise your taxes for every excuse that comes around the corner."

• Transportation

Excerpt: "First, funds that are dedicated to meet our transportation needs in our Transportation Trust Fund should not be at risk of being diverted to pay for other non-transportation programs or projects. We need to restore “trust” to the trust fund."

Personal

Martin was born in Chesterfield County, Virginia on June 15, 1956.

See also

• Virginia Senate
• Virginia lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2013
• Virginia state executive official elections, 2013
• Lieutenant Governor of Virginia

External links

Suggest a link

• Stephen Martin's personal website
• Biography from the Virginia Legislature
• Legislative profile from Project Vote Smart
• Biography from Project Vote Smart
• Sen. Martin on State Surge
• Campaign contributions:1999, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2007

References

Political offices
Preceded by NA	Virginia Senate District 11 1994-present	Succeeded by NA